48 EXPERIENCES WHICH BEST DEVELOP THE CHILD
help the child have fewer fears by helping him to meet his
difficulties actively, by removing underlying causes of his fears,
and by helping him meet and deal with a fear as it arises.
A daily program of living which provides a schedule that
the child can follow without too great tension, a consistent
discipline, and punishments which teach rather than inhibit,
will tend to develop feelings of adequacy, of belonging, and
security.
The insecurities in the adult world today are especially re-
vealed in anxieties which exist in many families with young
' children. The anxieties may be caused by such immediate
problems as having to adjust to a lower wage or salary, moving
to a new home and taking up new work, or the many psycho-
logical and personal relations adjustments people must make
after a separation. Children sense adults' worries and may
express their disturbed feelings in overt misbehavior or by
becoming timid and withdrawing from normal social activi-
ties. Wise parents will offset their children's fears by letting
them have many hours of active creative play and, in an
underlying atmosphere of optimism, letting them help make
family plans.
The child of six and seven likes to participate in actual work
and is interested in many objective, abstract things. He
needs to explore the activities in the community and to learn
how the neighborhood and city take care of the people. He
needs to know where food, clothing, and other supplies come
from, how they are produced, and about the adult world in
general In short, his interests are expanding.5
The six- and seven-year-old is proud of being asked to help,
and works long on an activity which interests him, but the
same work day after day bores him, as he is not yet ready to
carry regular tasks, and the urge to learn new facts is impera-
tive with him. The seven-year-old begins to be weaned from
home and his parents. His curiosity is increasing and he
thinks about things beyond his own orbit. Guidance is essen-
5 Agaes de Lima, The Little Red School House, pp. 16-27.